Reply To: Sharpening in the cold
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Sven-
I use different methods for different tools. Narrow chisels and gouges still get sharpened freehand on my very nice transparent amber novaculite oilstone. I find I get a finer edge than with diamond stones and dont screw up my water stones. I only have to flatten the stone occasionally. It still has another lifetime left.
(I use a touch of soapy water on the stone, not oil- less mess and smell)
My plane irons get honed on water stones. Yes, it’s a bit messy, but again, I get finer edges. And because I use water stones, I have taken to the Charlesworth method. It’s very quick and I don’t nick up my soft 800 grit or my fine 16K stones. And with the Charlesworth method, I don’t have to strop.
I have diamond stones, but they aren’t as quick and need more pressure, something I try to lessen with my elbow arthritis.
But I’m not advocating. There are 100 ways to sharpen and most work.
And maybe I wasn’t clear. I don’t own a Tormek.
I was just looking at one. I do know they need refreshing often. A buddy of mine says he has to flatten them as often as I do with my water stones. But maybe both of you wait too long, I don’t really know.
There is a jig that makes that pretty much automatic, I’m told. That and the cost is why I haven’t sprung for one. In a couple years I’ll be moving to a place with a communal shop that has one, so I may never pull the trigger, but just buy stones for that one.
For rough grinding, I use either a, old hand grinder with an 80 grit blue stone or if things have really gotten out of hand, a metal working 4×48 belt grinder I have access to. Things have to be dire, though. It’s too easy to screw things up worse. The thing is a monster.